Long Live Death: Welcome To The Afterlife

by Mercott, Joshua

  The television screens went blank as King Death sent out a focused pulse-wave of energy. He disappeared from the courtroom. I was shocked, I didn’t know he could do that. My legs moved of their own accord up the side steps and to the desk where I collected the papers I needed. Behind the desk on the floor I found a large camping bag and I started to arrange the papers inside its waterproof skin. I lifted the bag at intervals to see if I could manage the weight and, even though the bag still had space, I zipped it up, stuck my arms through the shoulder holds and struggled to stand. I found a feather quill sitting on the desk where the papers were. I hadn’t seen it there before. It was black and white and strangely heavy. I packed it too. Maybe this was the official signature pen I had to use. What else could it be?

  I left the courtroom, slowly until I got used to the burden on my back, and made my way into the first quadrant, Human. People from inside the courtroom walked back home or took cabs. The drivers would then go back to their own homes. I saw Nolan leave the custody chambers, and more Velociraptor Units than I knew could exist moved everywhere to maintain order and see that Death’s wishes were carried out to the letter. Those who were still outside looked at me, I don’t know if their expressions showed pity or gratitude, and I didn’t care. I had a task to complete. A few moments ago, I didn’t even know I would have this chance. Were we honestly going to stay? Was this a formality for an inevitable ‘yes’? People looked at me from the windows and rooftops. They were inside their homes as dictated, and when I came to call on the first residence the door promptly opened and people flushed into their living rooms. I opened the bag, took out a slip of paper and using the black and white feather quill wrote, right on top, ‘Human Quadrant Signatures’.

  Every life-form I met was gracious to me but I sensed their trepidation, concern and distinct fear of the outcome. The feather quill didn’t seem to need any ink at all. I handed it to each member of the family or group who stayed together. One second all they scribbled were invisible shapes, tiny and compact to save paper space. After a while the scribbles turned from nothing to grey to obsidian and then stallion-black. I got my first four signatures, drank water offered to me and headed next door.

  This was how I spent my days and nights in Quadrant. Everyone was indoors, even the ones who’d completed signing. The ‘Raptor Unit had people get back inside by royal decree when they came out even for a smoke or to stretch their legs. Rations or groceries were carried by assigned ‘Raptors and delivered using their massive armored vehicles. Anywhere people weren’t living was closed down and locked for the foreseeable future. Quadrant City was in the middle of a heartbeat skip.

  I was courteously offered a place to eat at strange tables and use unknown washrooms. I slept on a new couch and used a new bath everyday. Most of them weren’t comfortable or neat, and the food I was freely offered wasn’t always filling or savory but that’s just my anxiety talking. I thanked them all when I left and headed to the next home. I went as fast I could, but it takes as long as it takes. When I visited one of the daily paper’s editors, he said to me, “This is the first time in nine and a half centuries that the Quadrant Chronicle hasn’t published a paper.” I could see that he partly blamed me, but he signed the bond sheet and his name appeared on it. So far, after several sheets and hundreds of signatures later, nobody was found a liar. They all said no to reincarnation.

  Days became weeks. I became a vagabond in my own city. I even came to my apartment but didn’t go in. I had decided to put my signature last. I covered all the courtiers next. Boremasta, Krell, Natalew and the other three hundred and forty six whom I didn’t really know. The trains had stopped, no buses or taxis were in circulation. I wasn’t even allowed a bicycle. But I was determined to do this. I will do this. People shared so much of their thoughts and wishes during my visits that I can’t really remember anything specific. They were an ocean of hopes and dreams with islands of thank-you’s. I didn’t want to think about it, it only distracted me, slowed me down. I carried on.

  Typical, it started to rain. It was a light drizzle but after a few houses it came time to walk to Castle Von Heisen, and it rained hard. The woman in the house I’d just left had given me her umbrella and I was glad it didn’t take up unwanted space. The bag was waterproof and the umbrella was quite wide. When the wind gained strength, I felt a wide ‘brella was a bad idea. It turned inside out and flew out of my hands, over the trees and away yonder. I shrugged to myself, adjusted the heavy camping bag and walked in the rain.

  The gate to the castle was open wide. I was surprised to see the Von Heisens had placed differently sized umbrellas at a table, held down by leather clasps. I took one and walked to their gigantic residence. Batler Jacob gave me a smile that almost made me break out in tears. I wanted to rest, actually rest, even if it had to be in Dracula’s old room, but I had to move on. The family welcomed me with unexpected openness. There were hugs and kisses, which made me very uncomfortable especially when the male members of the family thought I’d be okay with such affection. But all in all, I was glad to see this side of them. I was even gladder when Baroness Von Heisen gave me a soft peck on the cheek and forehead. There were several signatures to get in this mini-city they called a castle. Most of the servants even lived here in their own quarters. I stayed a few days, ate light, slept lighter, got the job done, packed up and trekked back to the office for the census check and more bond papers. The whole Von Heisen family came out to send me on my way and they sang softly until I had walked out of earshot.

  Time crawled or flew whenever it felt like it. I suffered but managed to get through millions of people in the Human Quadrant. The Velociraptor Unit kept the city streets clean while people still lived like recluses, locked away inside their homes, music, books, and television being their only souce of distraction. A pre-set series of shows played everyday and, unlike me, they could take advantage of the benefit.

  From the time I had joined His Majesty’s courtier service, I had yet to reincarnate any of the seven hundred million souls in Quadrant. Now we had one more in the population, a baby. Even though I didn’t know the infant, I believed in the hope he represented. Without that child, King Death would never have approved our request no matter how unanimous. He had life on his lands and was therefore subject to Elder opinion on the matter. I was in the next quadrant’s town square and as I looked around me realized that I had never seen the city so empty and yet so full.

  Two and a half months, no end in sight. I had collected more than five hundred million signatures with plenty more to go. I was healthy enough. The soul-medics whom I visited along my signature-trek took care of me and helped keep me going with small medical provisions. I had overslept many nights and wondered if they compensated for my general lack of sleep. I was still standing, still going, still undefeated. Then why did I feel like chaff being ground in a thresher? There were some familiar faces along the way and I think they helped me hold on to my sanity. Could a soul go mad? Could a fleshified soul like myself fall prey to psychological illness? Weren’t emotions based on the psyche? If I could feel, couldn’t I also go insane?

  A lot of people are depending on me. Only I can do this. I don’t care how I came to be appointed Reincarnator. All I know is that I must persevere. I must do this for a whole city of people who sat in their homes and dreamed of departing this darkness.

  I remembered observing a group of cleaners once. What did those men and women from different life-systems do to earn such menial jobs? Then it struck me. They weren’t doing something that should be frowned upon. Someone has to clean or we’d all be in one dirty mess. And cleaning doesn’t come to everyone, it’s an art in itself. Not all who hold the broom can sweep and not all who grip the mop can make floors shine. There’s a method to it, a technique. So many get it wrong and the place is left dirtier than it was, like a painter spreading colors across a canvas without really making much of a difference. Cleaners, at least to me, are more important than most people. I cannot co
mpare myself to such admirable souls but for the past few months I have been doing something that only I could do, like how only some cleaners could clean right.

  As much as I felt the nobility behind my decision to serve the people of Quadrant City not to mention His Majesty the King, I still wanted it to be over soon. I wanted to get back to my life and if there was no need to reincarnate anyone I could have my pick of jobs and the friendship of a whole city to keep me happy and helping others for the rest of my immortal soul existence. Few things could bring bliss like such hopes. I could finally be free.

  22

  After four and a half months of intermittent fast and slow days, I finally completed my census of Quadrant City. All seven hundred million had signed the bond papers, which made me breathe a sigh of relief that my efforts weren’t wasted. The King, I must admit, surprised me. In his notes on the wall, he listed the number of papers I would need for a quadrant and gave me a map that would make my trek easier. It was far from easy, it was hell on my feet and everywhere else for that matter. It was often quite humiliating. But Death’s notes helped cut several potential mistakes. I knew he didn’t do it for me but to help me wrap the whole thing up so he could move to the next phase of planning. I was starting to think that King Death wanted out of this city as much as all of Quadrant wanted in.

  After I’d completed with one quadrant I’d walk all the way back to central government, place the signed papers on my desk, walk all the way to court, collect extra papers based on the notes I saw on the wall. Death had done the calculations, and any changes he made to the list in my office wall came to court by some magic only he could know. The last batch of papers with Crystal-Blood signatures on them was done. When I walked into my office to place the final sheaves down, I saw him there. I immediately got on one knee even though it hurt. “Your Majesty.” He tilted his head at me. He actually acknowledged me, which has never happened before. Was that a good thing? Your guess is as good as mine. I looked up again and he was gone. I heard his all-encompassing voice like the air itself was his megaphone.

  “People of Quadrant City, I want as many of you as possible assembled at the Grand Imperial Harbor. I ask the Press to collect their gear and prepare for a citywide telecast. The ‘Raptor Unit has already set up the screens.” I did notice that, large television monitors like the ones I’d seen during Moo-Day were up and I’d wondered how that happened when everyone was curfewed. If his voice didn’t wake the city up, I don’t know what would. It was early morning and the mist hadn’t cleared yet. Talk about a rude awakening. He reappeared inside the room just as I was getting to my feet. “Follow me,” he said as he stood with one hoof on the windowsill. I walked to him. King Death held the back of my neck and I seemed to become weightless. Attached to his hand I felt no pain from his bounding movments. He took to the air and took me with him.

  Nothing was allowed to fly over Quadrant City, nothing but him. This is why we were denied air travel and the citizens were alright with that. It wasn’t too much of an inconvenience nor was it really necessary. As I flew over the quadrants, I saw how breathtaking and vast the city was. There was no perfect symmetry to it but that’s what made it beautiful. The aerial view revealed locations I had never been in before. I knew because I saw spots that were familiar and I remembered never exploring beyond that. My work and personal chores didn’t give me time to know more about this amazing metropolis. I was falling all over in love with Quadrant City and knew at least one thing I’d like to do when the city received its freedom. Did I say ‘when’? I meant ‘if’.

  We left civilization and flew over a forest. Nothing but the sound of the breeze filled my senses. We came to a cliff face, the King bounded up and I heard the clank of his bladed wings shift angles. We went over the cliff and three meters in, a gigantic crater gaped. It looked like it could swallow the sky. It was filled almost to the brim with azure water and looked like it belonged in a tropical setting. I so badly felt the urge to swim in its dream-worthy depths. He alighted. It was not as gentle as I’d expected. I instantly felt the weight of my bones and suddenly realized just how dense and heavy we were, fleshified souls and actual bodies alike.

  “This is the Lake of All-Seeing,” he said to me and sounded serious. “The program that codes for this city, the program that brought you and everyone else here, the same program that I’d coded to help me appoint courtiers to their roles... This lake is the program, Helidon. Its waters are linked to the universal oceans that connect all afterlife dimensions. Each place has its own version of the program. What you see before you is Quadrant’s.”

  “It’s beautiful, Your Majesty. Why are you showing me this, sire?”

  He straightened and sighed. “Helidon, I am King of many worlds. I have been in this place too long. Ten centuries may not seem like much to most immortals but to me they’re valuable time spent or wasted. I have done a little bit of both in Quadrant and it is time I left to pursue other goals. I brought you here because I don’t think it’s wise to share this next part with the people; not so soon at any rate. They will not take well to it and their dissent will complicate everything, delay us both. I deliberately kept from telling you, all of you, something about the bond papers. I’ll let the people know parts of this when the time comes. As you submitted signed papers in batches, I sent them over to the Realm using the Elder-net; it’s too complex for your comprehension, think of it as a private internet. They approved. I asked that they do so for reasons only they and I can fully understand. You’re the first to know that Quadrant City has won its freedom. Thanks to your efforts and single-minded focus, you have given the people of Suicide City the right to rule themselves. They’ll still answer to me of course but in a more spread-out manner.”

  “I’m so happy to hear this, Your Majesty. Thank you, sire. There’s so much we can do, so much we can create, build, learn and teach.”

  “Yes, Helidon. But there is no ‘we’.”

  “I understand, you’re leaving.”

  “Don’t be a fool for once in your afterlife.” I gawked at him. “There is a price for everything. Quadrant City’s freedom will be paid for with your reincarnation. You’ll be the last Reincarnator and the last to be reincarnated in the city. There is no place for you here. It is the way of things.”

  “But, Your Majesty, there’s nothing for me in life. There’s little I can do there. I can achieve great things here, my King. I have hope here, dreams and possibilities. Why would you send me away?”

  “Now you know why I brought you here. I thought it best to tell you in private. The people needn’t know. They can see for themselves when you take Captain Charon’s ship along with Lady Life. It is for the best, Helidon. Don’t question this, it’s bigger than you. I’ll tell them if I feel it has to be told. Look at the Lake of All-Seeing. Here’s where the lives of all the citizens of Quadrant City can be viewed, any point in their lives is open for me to see. You cannot handle the programming strain of such a thing. I brought you here for another reason. Every Reincarnator comes here before he enters the rebirth cycle. Based on his weaknesses, he will place his hands in the water and think of one thing that could have made him a stronger and better Reincarnator, a trait he didn’t have when he served. The program will use that to help find the next Reincarnator. Now, since we no longer have need for someone like you, I still need you to follow tradition so we can appoint a steward to rule Quadrant City in my absence. The program will use your input to find an apt soul from a broader spectrum of souls that include both suicides and natural deaths. This is a first, Helidon, when Quadrant City will open its doors to life-forms that haven’t taken their own lives; pending approval, of course. Your efforts and the needs of the people have seen to such changes. Now, I know you have many weaknesses and you’ve made stupidity an art-form but do your best. Do it while your hands are in the water. Once you’e finished, we’ll head on over to the harbor. I will stay behind to receive the new steward, orientate him, after which I will sail out.”r />
  “Since I’m leaving, Your Majesty, might I suggest something? This isn’t for the program, just for you. I have another suggestion to pose to the Lake.”

  “Go ahead,” he said, reluctantly.

  “You should have women at court. It’s a suggestion, sire, that’s all. They’re beautiful and talented and Government could use them. Ten centuries is too long a time to promote an old-fashioned ideology.”

  “You’re getting bold. You know that since you’re leaving I wouldn’t bother harming you for those words. I said no women at court, Helidon.” He sounded angry now. I had struck a nerve. It felt strangely good. “They’re a distraction.”

  “Where I come from, they’re also smart and often more capable than men.”

  “I know that, I have seen more than you have. But women...” For the first time I found the King at a loss for words. “They stir things up, create disorder and go on creating things. I don’t need such chaos in Government. Now shuddup and do your final duty. Women in Government, pfft,” I’d never heard him make that sound either, “over my dead body.”

  I shrugged and went back to the task before me. He walked away as I walked toward the lake. I placed my hands in the water and felt their uncanny warmth. I heard whispers and felt a soft caress. I closed my eyes and entered a kind of nirvana. More than me thinking about a trait apt for a new steward, the water seemed to be gathering intel from my mind on its own. Perhaps it wanted a copy of all my recent experiences here in the city. I don’t know, I felt light-headed and peaceful. I took my hands out and didn’t know if I followed the tradition Death described. I didn’t even realize that I had been crying, partly because of the bliss the waters’ touch made me feel and partly because I didn’t want to go, not from the lake, not from this city. I had earned my right to stay, hadn’t I? Didn’t I deserve to be here? “I have so much to do...” The words escaped my lips.